Grease gun filler



Dec. 21, 1948. c. STRONG GBEASE'GUN FILLER Filed Nov. 17., 1945v 'lml entm' 1 Cole 557072 9 B M ma Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UN'iTED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE GREASE GUN FILLER (Sole Strong, Estanci'a, N.. Mex. Application November 17, 1945 Serial No. 629,219

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a lubricant dispenser and has for its object rapidly to fill grease and oil guns without waste of the lubricant.

Another object is to protect the contents of the dispenser and to eliminate the introduction of foreign matter into the grease or oil gun being filled.

A still further and important object of my invention is to prevent the compressed air employed to eject the lubricant from the dispenser from blowing through or channelling the lubricant and hence threugh the dispensing tube of the: device, and to avoid the entrapment or the air in the lubricant being. delivered throughthe dispensing tube.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying, illustrative drawings in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a lubricant dispenser embodying the features of this invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the bottom of the dispenser and cover plate, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the dispenser on a reduced scale showing certain parts removed.

In the above drawings as well as in the specification to follow, the same characters of reference indicate the same parts throughout.

While one embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the above referred to drawings, it is to be understood that it is merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any way departing from the spirit and intention of my device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the invention as claimed. And while I have stated the primary field of utility of my invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the drawings, my grease gun filler designated generally Iii comprises fluid-tight container adapted to withstand pressures up to 500 lbs, per square inch. Formed in the end wall |4 of the container H is an axial filling opening l2 surrounded by an inturned annular flange I5. The opening I2 is closed by a cover plate l6, bolted as at l8" to the flange. A sealing gasket H is interposed between the flange I and outer edge of the cover plate It in order efiectively to seal the junction of the parts against the escape of the contents of the container.

Projecting from the outer surface of the cover plate- IB is a centrally disposed nipple I9 upon which is threaded a cap 20 carrying an air inlet valve 2|. A skirt 22 carried by the container depends far enough below the end wall M to protect the valve 21 from contact withthe surface upon which the container may be supported.

The end wall of the container opposite the end wall I4- is formed with a centrally disposed flattened portion 26 which lies in a plane parallel to the flange l5. Formed in the wall 26 is an axial bore 21 through which a dispensing tube 28' projects. This tubeextends wtihin the container to a point near the cover plate I6 and carries on its outer end a control valve 29. Connected to the valve 29 opposite the dispensing tube 28 is a fitting by which a grease gun or the like may be attached to the dispenser.

Slidably mounted on the inner lower end of the tube 28, is a collar 33 carrying at its upper end a flange 34, and fixed to the tube 28 above the collar 33 is a flange 35. A compression coiled spring 36 surrounds the tube 28 and bears at opposite ends on the flanges 34 and 35. Fixed on the lower terminal of the collar 33 is an outstanding annular flange 4| and projecting from the lower face of the flange 4| is an annular row of radially spaced lugs 31 which normally contact the inner face of the cover plate Hi. The flange 4| is thus held out of contact with the cover plate to form an annular passageway through which grease may enter the tube. With such a structure, the flange 4| serves as a baffle plate which will effectively prevent the air from blowing through the lubricant and introducing entrapped air into the dispensing tube 28.

Fixed to the upper end of the container on opposite sides thereof are U-handles 43 and 44 of a length that the cross-bars 45 and 46 project beyond the terminal of the fitting 3| in order that when the tank is inverted to fill the same, it will stand on said bars 45 and 46, and the fitting will be protected from injury.

In use, the container II is filled by inverting it and standing it on the handles 43 and 44 and removing the cover plate |B by unscrewing the screws I8. Lubricant of the desired viscosity may then be introduced into the container through the filling opening |2 to fill the container H to the desired level around the dispensing tube 28. When the desired quantity of lubricant has been placed in the container II, the cover plate I6 is replaced and secured by the screws I8 against the gasket I! to form an air tight junction. The outer end of the valve 2| is then coupled to a suitable source of air supply and air under pressure is admitted to the container I I until the desired pressure within the container is reached. This may be determined in any conventional manner as by testing with a conventional tire gage. The container H is then righted, thus causing the lubricant to flow downwardly around the inner end of the dispensing tube 23 to displace the air and cause it to form a cushion between the top of the lubricant and the end wall 25 of the container. The filling opening of the grease gun to be charged is then coupled to the fitting 3! in a conventional manner. Upon opening the valve 29, the pressure of the air on the top of the lubricant in the lower part of the container will cause the lubricant to flow between the flange M and the cover plate 16 into the lower end of the dispensing tube 21 from whence it passes upwardly through the tube 21', valve 29 and fitting 3! into the grease gun being filled. By reason of the slidable mounting of the flange il, it can move away from the cover plate l3 to assure the entrance of a sufiicient volume of lubricant into the lower end of the dispensing tube 28, completely to fill the same in a minimum amount of time and at the same time, owing to the fact that the lubricant must enter the dispensing tube peripherally of the flange 41, no channelling of the air through the lubricant need be experienced.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding ofthe invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview 4 of the invention claimed may be resorted to, in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

A lubricant dispenser comprising a fluidtight container having an axial filling opening in one end and an axial dispensing opening in its opposite end, a dispensing tube entering the container through the dispensing opening and terminating near the filling opening, a control valve at the outer end of the dispensing tube, a cover plate closing the filling opening, said cover plate having an air inlet opening in axial alignment with the dispensing tube, an air inlet check valve closing said air inlet opening, a baflie plate slidably mounted on the inner end of the dispensing tube, means yieldingly to urge the bafile plate toward the cover plate and an annular row of radially spaced lugs projecting from the under side of the baiile plate whereby the baffle plate will be spaced from the coverplate to form an annular passage through which lubricant may enter the discharge tube.

COLE STRONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 543,472 Foster July 30, 1895 1,333,547 Johnson Mar. 9, 1920 1,449,829 Miller Mar. 27, 1923 1,545,379 Winkley July 7, 1925 1,661,498 Peck Mar. 6, 1928 2,170,720 Kestenbaum Aug. 22, '939 2,224,741 Metrick et a1 Dec. 10, 1940 2,234,458 Underhill Mar. 11, 1941 2,339,930 Howick Jan. 25, 1944 2,373,037 Lindsay Apr. 3, 1945 

